A03519:131
Certain Sermons or Homilies (First Book of Homilies)
Certain sermons, or homilies appointed by the kings Majesty, to be declared and read, by all persons, vicars, or curates, every Sunday in their churches, where they have cure. Anno 1547.Certayne sermons, or homelies appoynted by the kynges Maiestie, to be declared and redde, by all persones, vicars, or curates, euery Sondaye in their churches, where they haue cure. Anno 1547.
London: printed by Richard Grafton printer to his most royal Majesty, 1547London: printed by Rychard Grafton printer to his moste royall Maiestie, 1547
Title page typeset from the transcription.
¶ An exhortation against the fear of Death.¶ An exhortation agaynst the feare of Death.
Modern spelling is a reading aid: the words are the author’s, only the spelling is modernized. Original shows the page as printed, with the transcription marks.
1The second cause, why some do fear death, is sore sickness, and grievous pains, which partly, come before death, and partly, accompanieth death, whensoever it cometh. This fear, is the fear of the frail flesh, and a natural passion, belonging unto the nature of a mortal man. But true faith, in Gods promises, and regard of the pains and pangs, which Christ upon the cross suffered for us miserable sinners, with consideration of the joy, and everlasting life to come in heaven, will mitigate those pains, and moderate this fear, that it shall never be able to overthrow the hearty desire, and gladness, that the christian soul hath to be separated from this corrupt body, that it may come to the gracious presence, of our saviour Jesus Christ. If we believe steadfastly the word of god, we shall perceive, that such bodily sickness, pangs of death, or whatsoever dolorous pains we suffer, either before or with death, be nothing else in Christen men, but the rod of our heavenly and loving father, wherewith he mercifully correcteth us, either to try and declare the faith of his patient children, that they may be found laudable, glorious, and honourable in his sight, when Jesus Christ shall be openly showed, to be the Judge of all the world: or else to chastise, and amend in them, whatsoever offendeth his fatherly and gracious goodness, lest they should perish ⟨image 59⟩everlastingly. And this his correcting rod, is common to all them, that be truly his. Therefore let us caste away the burden of sin, that lieth so heavy in our necks, and return unto God, by true penance, and amendment of our lives. Let us with patience run this course that is appointed, suffering (for his sake that dyed for our salvation) all sorrows and pangs of death, and death it self joyfully, when God sendeth it to us, having our eyes fixed ever upon the head, and captain of our faith, Jesus Christ: Who (considering the joy, that he should come unto) cared neither for the shame, nor pain of death, but willingly, conforming his will to his fathers will, most patiently suffered the most shameful and painful death of the cross, being innocent.2 And now therefore, he is exalted in heaven, and everlastingly sitteth on the right hand of the throne of God the father.